Sun Tzu's incredible wisdom and expertise returns to the front, rating an entirely new roster of classic anime characters. As a quick refresher, the rating system works as follows. Sun Tzu cited Five Essential Victory Factors: Morality, Weather, Terrain, Good Leadership, and Preparation. Those under consideration can earn 0-10 points each here. However, he also cited Five Fatal Failings of Leadership: Recklessness, Cowardice, A Hasty Temper (Anger, for simplicity), Delicacy of Honor (DOH), and Caring too much about the troops (Over-caring). Those under consideration can lose 0-10 points in each. At the end, the scores are tallied, with each character aiming for 40 or better.
For this analysis, we'll be looking at the series' protagonist and his various love interests from the legendary Lord Marksman & Vanadis, which presents some of the best tactical and strategic moments of its day. To keep things fair, we'll analyze them in the order they were formally introduced.
Character Analysis: Eleonora Viltaria
Lord Marksman & Vanadis: Eleonora Viltaria
Lord Marksman & Vanadis: Eleonora Viltaria
Victory Factors
Factor
Score
Reasoning
Morality
8
Despite her aggressive nature, she's actually a great person with a strong sense of duty, especially when it comes to helping Tigre stop Thenardier.
Weather
10
Due to her strength and her sword's ability to control the wind, not only is there no issue, this factor is a key ally, especially when fighting Thenardier's five dragons.
Terrain
7
She's very capable, like with changing the rivers' courses to fight Roland, although she wasn't so good in the Tatra Mountains.
Good Leadership
7
She's a very capable strategist and field commander, although she's occasionally led astray, such as with Elizaveta.
Preparation
8
She's extremely capable, particularly with planning ambushes, although she does still occasionally wing things.
Total
40
Fatal Failings
Failing
Score
Reasoning
Recklessness
-9
Major red flag. She's extremely impulsive, especially when she's jealous or squabbling with Ludmila, and has a bad habit of underestimating foes.
Cowardice
-4
She's a little shy at times with Tigre, but recovered nicely, hence the lower score.
Anger
-9
Major red flag. She's a hothead, and easily triggered, namely when she's jealous or her pride is insulted.
Delicacy of Honor
-7
Slight red flag. She's very cocky, not to mention very vain, something both Ludmila and Elizaveta exploited.
Over-caring
-8
Serious red flag. She's infatuated with Tigre, but also so devoted to Sasha she dropped everything to intervene in her affairs.
Total
-37
Final Assessment
Score: 3 (Nightmare scenario)
Character Analysis: Tigrevermud Vorn
Lord Marksman & Vanadis: Tigrevermud Vorn
Lord Marksman & Vanadis: Tigrevermud Vorn
Victory Factors
Factor
Score
Reasoning
Morality
10
He's an incredible person: gentle, empathetic, forgiving…a true example of nobility.
Weather
10
Due to his strength and archery skills, the latter so great the wind itself appreciated so much it actually helped him in the final battle against Thenardier, there's no issue here.
Terrain
10
He's got an impeccable eye for terrain, especially when it comes to deception, like when he used a dip in the land and setting sun to fool Zion.
Good Leadership
9
He's a natural leader and, despite starting as a minor count, matured into arguably anime's best general, although he did falter a few times due to the war's rising cost and Bertrand's death.
Preparation
10
His planning skills are amazing, namely when it comes to using limited resources, like when he smashed Muozinel's 20,000-man first wave with just 1,700 troops.
Total
49
Fatal Failings
Failing
Score
Reasoning
Recklessness
-8
Serious red flag. Tigre constantly underestimates the various ladies around him, not to mention his countrymen's ever-shifting allegiances, and often doesn't forgets to rest.
Cowardice
-7
He's very shy with the ladies around him, and is often insecure about how to handle certain threats.
Anger
-6
He's got a temper, one that's most often triggered by injustice, but thankfully doesn't use it very often.
Delicacy of Honor
0
He's very modest, so no worries here.
Over-caring
-7
Slight red flag. He's a good-hearted person, and the loss of so many troops starts to wear at him as the series progresses.
Total
-28
Final Assessment
Score: 21 (Capable, yet moderately flawed)
Character Analysis: Limalisha
Lord Marksman & Vanadis: Limalisha
Lord Marksman & Vanadis: Limalisha
Victory Factors
Factor
Score
Reasoning
Morality
8
She's gruff, but is actually a great person, especially when she starts appreciating Tigre's capabilities.
Weather
8
Due to her skill and experience, this really isn't an issue.
Terrain
9
She's got a great eye, even in places she's not familiar with, such as when she used the rope trap against Zion.
Good Leadership
7
She's a very capable field commander, but remains a follower at the end.
Preparation
10
She's very studious with analyzing foes, and is an amazing planner.
Total
42
Fatal Failings
Failing
Score
Reasoning
Recklessness
-8
Serious red flag. She badly underestimated Thenardier and Ganelon's ruthlessness, namely with their using the Serish assassins.
Cowardice
-7
Slight red flag. She's surprisingly shy with Tigre, most notably after he saved her from the snakebite.
Anger
-7
Slight red flag. She's a hothead, especially when she's embarrassed.
Delicacy of Honor
-5
Slight red flag. She's very cocky at times, although it gets tempered over time, hence the lower rating.
Over-caring
-6
She's very dedicated to Eleonora, plus Tigre after a while.
Total
-33
Final Assessment
Score: 9 (Nightmare scenario)
Character Analysis: Titta
Lord Marksman & Vanadis: Titta
Lord Marksman & Vanadis: Titta
Victory Factors
Factor
Score
Reasoning
Morality
9
She's very sweet and very dedicated to Tigre.
Weather
5
She's okay, but a little flimsy outdoors.
Terrain
3
She doesn't always pay attention, especially when Zion broke into Alsace.
Good Leadership
5
She's got a few good points, but is more follower than leader.
Preparation
7
She's very capable, such as when she gathered supplies to fight Zion, but sadly didn't get to do much after.
Total
27
Fatal Failings
Failing
Score
Reasoning
Recklessness
-9
Major red flag. She's extremely impulsive, and badly underestimated Zion, a mistake that cost her very dearly.
Cowardice
-8
Serious red flag. She's still not able to confess her feelings to Tigre at the end, plus she's generally very insecure.
Anger
-8
Serious red flag. She's got a short fuse, and her jealousy often sparks when anyone gets near Tigre.
Delicacy of Honor
-4
She's surprisingly vain at first, but the war tempers it quickly, hence the lower rating.
Over-caring
-9
She's utterly devoted to Tigre, not to mention driven to help him at all costs.
Total
-38
Final Assessment
Score: -11 (Nightmare scenario)
Character Analysis: Ludmila Lore
Lord Marksman & Vanadis: Ludmila Lore
Lord Marksman & Vanadis: Ludmila Lore
Victory Factors
Factor
Score
Reasoning
Morality
8
Despite her gruff nature, she's actually a great person.
Weather
10
Due to her training and spear, which controls ice, not only is this no issue, it's a remarkable ally, just like with Eleonora.
Terrain
8
She's got an amazing eye, particularly for defense, her specialty, although she badly bungled the Tatra Mountain citadel battle.
Good Leadership
7
She's a capable strategist and tactician, but failed to sever ties with Thenardier due to familial obligation, even though she despised him.
Preparation
8
She's a great planner, but still misses things here and there, like when she accidentally led Tigre to the citadel's rear gate.
Total
41
Fatal Failings
Failing
Score
Reasoning
Recklessness
-9
Major red flag. She constantly underestimates Tigre and Thenardier, and is extremely impulsive, particularly when baited by Eleonora.
Cowardice
-7
Slight red flag. She's secretly very insecure about her obligations, her feelings for Tigre, and her physicality.
Anger
-9
Major red flag. She's got a violent temper, and is easily triggered, namely when baited by Eleonora.
Delicacy of Honor
-9
Major red flag. She's extremely vain, something that's never truly tempered despite Tigre's presence.
Over-caring
-7
Slight red flag. She's infatuated with Tigre, something which only worsens her squabbles with Eleonora.
Total
-41
Final Assessment
Score: 0 (Nightmare scenario)
Character Analysis: Sofi Obertis
Lord Marksman & Vanadis: Sofi Obertis
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Victory Factors
Factor
Score
Reasoning
Morality
10
She's very sweet and gentle, not to mention a very loyal friend.
Weather
10
Due to her strength and staff, which controls light, this isn't an issue for her.
Terrain
8
Again, her skill and staff make her very capable, especially due to the latter's giving her the ability to craft barriers and teleport, although she did bungle her initial encounter with Tigre.
Good Leadership
10
She's very good at restraining Eleonora and Ludmila, not to mention a great negotiator and diplomat.
Preparation
8
She's great at training and readying for statecraft, although she does still wing things occasionally.
Total
46
Fatal Failings
Failing
Score
Reasoning
Recklessness
-8
Serious red flag. She badly underestimated Roland, a mistake which almost got her killed, not to mention Tigre's goodness and his foes' ruthlessness.
Cowardice
0
She's very bold, so no worries here.
Anger
0
She doesn't really get angry, so no worries here either.
Delicacy of Honor
0
She's surprisingly modest, yet also very confident, so worries here yet again.
Over-caring
-5
Her growing feelings for Tigre famously lead her to ignore royal orders not to get involved with Roland.
Total
-13
Final Assessment
Score: 33 (Highly capable, with slight flaws)
Character Analysis: Princess Regin Estelle Loire Bastion de Charles
Lord Marksman & Vanadis: Princess Regin
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Victory Factors
Factor
Score
Reasoning
Morality
10
She's a wonderful person: gentle, just, and extremely loyal.
Weather
5
She's a little flimsy, and didn't handle the Agnes region well.
Terrain
7
She didn't do so well in her escape, but knows Brun very well, particularly the Grotto.
Good Leadership
5
She's okay, but ultimately not very assertive, namely in the final battle against Thenardier.
Preparation
9
She's very capable, especially since she had to pose as a boy most of her life for both her safety and that of her mom.
Total
36
Fatal Failings
Failing
Score
Reasoning
Recklessness
-9
Major red flag. She badly underestimated Thenardier and Ganelon's ruthlessness, something which almost got her killed, not to mention Tigre's goodness.
Cowardice
-8
Serious red flag. She's very shy with Tigre, and also very insecure up until the Thenardier's final defeat.
Anger
0
She doesn't really get angry, so no worries here.
Delicacy of Honor
0
She's very modest, so no worries here either.
Over-caring
-5
She deeply loves her dad, and has very open feelings for Tigre by the end.
Total
-22
Final Assessment
Score: 14 (Great potential, yet deeply flawed)
Reviewing the Results
As we can see, there's quite a diverse number of capable leaders, but many of their insecurities and petty issues, like jealousy, often undermine them. Then again, as has been said many times: follow Sun Tzu, and you'll win; ignore him, and you'll lose.
Lord Marksman & Vanadis Characters: Victory Factors Analysis
Character
Morality
Weather
Terrain
Leadership
Preparation
Final Score
Eleonora Viltaria
8
10
7
7
8
40
Tigrevermud Vorn
10
10
10
9
10
49
Limalisha
8
8
9
7
10
42
Titta
9
5
3
5
7
27
Ludmila Lore
8
10
8
7
8
41
Sofi Obertis
10
10
8
10
8
46
Princess Regin
10
5
7
5
9
36
Lord Marksman & Vanadis Characters: Fatal Failings Analysis
Character
Recklessness
Cowardice
Anger
DOH
Over-caring
Final Score
Eleonora Viltaria
-9
-4
-9
-7
-8
-37
Tigrevermud Vorn
-8
-7
-6
0
-7
-28
Limalisha
-8
-7
-7
-5
-6
-33
Titta
-9
-8
-8
-4
-9
-38
Ludmila Lore
-9
-7
-9
-9
-7
-41
Sofi Obertis
-8
0
0
0
-5
-13
Princess Regin
-9
-8
0
0
-5
-22
Lord Marksman & Vanadis Characters: Final Scores
Character
Final Score
Assessment
Eleonora Viltaria
3
Nightmare scenario
Tigrevermud Vorn
21
Capable, yet moderately flawed
Limalisha
9
Nightmare scenario
Titta
-11
Nightmare scenario
Ludmila Lore
0
Nightmare scenario
Sofi Obertis
33
Highly capable, with slight flaws
Princess Regin
14
Great potential, yet deeply flawed
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Andrew's originally from Massachusetts, and has studied military history/tactics/strategy for almost 30 years. He has a BA in History (English minor) from UMASS Lowell and JD from Mass. School of Law. He can be found on Twitter (@AndrewNickers19) daily, analyzing characters via Sun Tzu.
Fun Fact
Andrew's a huge fan of anime music. He particularly recommends Crescent Love (Brighter than the Dawning Blue), Dream Riser (Girls Und Panzer), and the fight theme to Zoids: New Century.
